An Innovative Electrochemical Process Removes All PFAS Types from Water, Including Ultra-Short-Chain Contaminants.
A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, led by chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Xiao Su, presents a groundbreaking solution. The team developed an innovative electrochemical system that integrates redox electrodialysis with electrosorption to remove the full spectrum of PFAS contaminants in a single process. This novel approach also enables the complete destruction of PFAS via electrochemical oxidation, offering a comprehensive and efficient solution for water treatment.
Conventional methods like activated carbon filtration and ion exchange primarily target long-chain PFAS, leaving ultra-short-chain variants untreated. The main hurdle in existing electrochemical systems has been the use of costly ion-exchange membranes, which are prone to fouling by PFAS molecules. To address these challenges, Su’s team developed a redox-polymer electrodialysis system that combines affordable nanofiltration (NF) membranes with a water-soluble redox polymer. This design allows for the efficient capture of both ultra-short-chain and longer-chain PFAS, while also performing desalination. The use of NF membranes avoids the fouling issues seen with traditional ion-exchange membranes, making the process more cost-effective and reliable.